Retaining-wall structure



2 Sheets-Sheet l W C C D.; m

Mr Arm/aven? Nov. 6, 1928.

J. w. sHlMEK RETAINIG WALL STRUCTURE Filed Deo. 13, 1926 Nov. 6,1928.

J. w. sHlMr-:K

RETAINI'NG WALL STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 13, 1926 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Arrqmfvs I Patented Nov. 6, 1928i.`

i UNITED STATES i N 1,690,136 PA'raiark OFFICE. o

Jomrw. snmnx, or LAKEWOOD, onio, AssiGNon 'ro THE n. c. 'PnoDUo'rs coMPANY,

" or CLEVELAND, omo, A conromirion or omo.

BETAINING-WALL srnucrunn.

The invention relates to retaining Walls and other structures, particularly wall structures made of concrete beams set at substantially right angles to each other, such as are disclosed in the copending application of Evers and Shim'ek,ySerial No. 20,037,"led r-April2,1925. 1 W f Such constructions are often subjected to `excessive stresses and vibrations vby which HM they are distorted, weakened or broken.

, It is the object of this invention to j strengthen such structures in a simple and effective Way, andthe invention consists in means hereinafter described and particularly j pointed out in the appended claims. `In the annexed drawings:

FigureA l is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a complete wall of the character indicated, showing my invention embodied therein.

Fi 2 is a sectional plan view taken on line le-II of Fig. l. Y i

`Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section showing the wedges of my invention incorporated Z5 therein taken on line III-III of Fig. l.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show one of the wedge blocks of my invention, Fig. 4 showing the small end ofthe wedge, Fig. 5 kshowing a side elevation thereof,` and Fig. 6 showing the large end thereof.

vFig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the inventionshowing a wedge block formed integral with the header. 1 Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig;v 7. :l Fig. 9 isa fragmentary vertical section similar to Fig. 3on line 1li-Dior" Fig. 10,

showing the modified form of header, and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectiontaken on line XX `of Fig. 9.

Referring to the `-drawings in detail in which the same reference number is used.

`- throughout to designate the same part and particularly to Figs. l to 6 inclusive, the Wall I isformed of sti'etchers 1 and headers 2, the stretchers lyin parallel withthe front face of the wall and the headers substantiallyV at right 'angles thereto, and forming anchoring members. The stretchers are of I-beam form, having opposed grooves 3, 4, while the headers 2 are provided with integral lugs or projections 5, G, which engage in the recesses 3, 4 of the stretchers, all as disclosed in theprior application referred to.

Such a concrete crib structure is built from -r--fhmbottom upward, and in order to make a good wall structure it is necessary to tamp earth or other material about each horizontal set of stretchers and headers as they are put in place; It often `occurs that this work is ineificiently performed or thatfrozen earth isused as a filler, with the result that` the earth .settles or shrinks, sometimes, to the extent of twenty-,tive or thirty per cent, leavs ing the Aconcrete work insufficiently supported. In such case the structure may be distorted, weakened or broken under the constant thrust of heavywloads or fromvibra tions resulting from passing trains or trucks. ln accordance with this invention the concrete structure is strengthened in an effective but very Asiinple'way at the points which are required to withstand the greatest stress.

1t is impracticable to make concrete beams ofthe type disclosed herein with exactness, inconsequence of which" the vertical distance between adjacent headers varies. For eX- ample, while it is intended to so construct the beams thatwlien assembled, adjacent faces of the headers will be' eight inches apart, thisdistance may vary as much as a quarter of an inch. `In order to strengthen thestructure at selected poi1its,-1 insert concrete blocks betweenthe headers at suoli points, so designed that a single block of certain form'pand dimensions, when used with a like block, will eflectively iill the space betweenadjacent headers at any desired point, no matter what the variation in distance between them maybe, at the same time permitting coinplete engagement between the stretcliers and headers at their interlocking points. This result isv accomplished by Vproviding a iller block 7 Figures 4, 5 and 6, in the form of a wedge, having opposite faces Sand 9, of which the far-e 9 is inclined Afrom the plane of the face 8, the latter being adapted to engage a face of a header 2 and the inclined face 9 engaging the inclined `face of another like block whose opposite face 8 is adapted to engage the adjacent face of another header 2 vertically adjacently aligned with the first-- mentioned header. The angular relation between the faces 8 and 9 of the block should be the minimum angle which will enable a pair oit' blocks to completely fill the space between the faces of the adjacent headers while affording sufficient engagement between two faces 9 to take the thrust imposed upon the blocks and a frictional resistance to movement Which will prevent the blocks from working out or. away from each other by vibrations to which the structure may be subjected. In practice it has been found tliatan angle of 7 to 10 between the faces 8 and S) meets all the required conditions.

It the concrete beams could be .made Withthe headers, three diilerent relations between the blocks being` illustra-,ted in Figs. Land lll, 11 and 12, indicating respectively, a distance between faces less than normal, normal, and greater` than normal.

Substantially the saine result may be ac eomplished; by making the blocks` 7 integral with the headers. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, in which 13 designates such a block. In erecting a structure composed of headers having inte- `gral blocks, a lug' (i ota header is placed in a groove 3 ot a stretcher and moved laterally until the inclined tace Ll of the block is in lirni Contact witlrthe inclined tace et an adjacent block. lll/'here the blocks are thus formed integral with the headers, the

headers will be disalined in accordance with the variations in dimensions of the headers and stretchers at their interlocking points as above explained. This form is not as flexible as the form shown in Figs. l to G as the reinforcement must be confined to such, points in the structure as may seem most desirable at the time the beams are invade, while the blocks 7 iii-.1y be furnished: in quantities at the building site, to be used. in accordance with the demands ot' the particular environF ment.

From the above description it will be apparent that my invention constitutes a decided improvement in the art as it provides a very simple and practical means of remedying certain deficiencies in present structures, and materially extends thev utility of cribbed concrete structures, particularly in situations such as illustrated and described herein, the vertical series of blocks adjacent versely arranged wedge blocks interposedbetween adjacent headers.

2. A crib retaining. wall structure comjnising a plurality ot horizontal series oi interlocking stretchers and hcadersin which the distances between the opposed faces of the respective pairs ot adjacent verticallyaligned headers vary. and Cooperating; re versely arranged wedge blocks interposed between adjacent headers, at points adja cent to the inside face ot the stretchers to torni a eountertort.

3. The construction spcciiied in claim` l in which the inclined faces of the wedge blocks are set at an angle ot' approximately 10.

4. A crib retaining. v'all structure coni prising a plurality of horizontal seriesy ot longitudinal stretchers, a pluralityl ol horizontal series of alternate trims-verse headers interlocked therewith, the distances between the opposed faces of the respective pairs of adjacent vertically-alignedr headersi vzlrying, and a pair ot reversely arranged blocks having cooperatingr longitudinallydnclined faces interposed between adjacent headers.

5. A crib retaining` Wall struct/ure comprising a plurality of horizontal Series of stretcher members, a plurality of horizontal series of alternate headei; members interlocked therewith, the distances between the opposed faces of the respective pairs ot adjacent vertically-aligned members ot one of said plurality otseries varying, and a pair of reversely arranged blocks havinglr cooperating inclined faces interposed between each pair ot said vertically adjacent members,

Signed by me this 28th day oi October,

JOHNv W. SHJMEK. 

